Striker crisis rocking Aston Villa ahead of derby
Thursday 28th October 2010, 11:30AM BST.
As ton Villa were today left counting the cost of reaching the Carling Cup quarter-finals as they faced up to a striking crisis ahead of Sunday’s Second City derby.
Emile Heskey, who came off the bench to score in last night’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Burnley, is their only fit senior forward just 72 hours before the visit of arch-rivals Birmingham.
John Carew is a late withdrawal with flu, joining Gabby Agbonlahor (groin) on the sidelines.
Villa will also have to cope without another key member of their attack against Blues after Marc Albrighton saw red in extra-time for a professional foul, while Luke Young (hamstring) is also absent.
“I changed it in the dressing room practically an hour before the game,” said boss Gerard Houllier.
“John didn’t feel too well, he said, whether it’s the flu or something. Gabby won’t be there for Sunday, John was ill, so we’ll see.”
Houllier, meanwhile, had no complaints over Albrighton’s sending off for pulling down Wade Elliott when he was the last man.
He said: “Mark’s sending off was a fair decision. He didn’t touch him (Elliott) a lot but I’ve no complaints.”
Heskey looked to have scored the winner against the spirited Championship side after 86 minutes but Clark Carlisle dramatically forced extra-time with a minute left.
Another substitute, Stewart Downing, put Villa back in front but Albrighton’s red made for a tense finale.
Houllier added: “I don’t take credit for the subs. I wanted to rest them. But, with other players tiring, they made a difference.
“Subs have to be in the right frame of mind, have the right attitude. Their freshness can bring initiative – and they did that. Emile came on and changed the game.”
Houllier added: “If you don’t play well you need to be resilient, we dug in, fought hard and eventually got reward.”
The reverse fixture at St Andrew’s on Sunday, January 16 has been chosen for Sky coverage (12pm kick-off). Sunday’s Villa Park fixture is not being screened.
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